DA: Westbury Seafood Firm Sold Over $100G in Fish, Shellfish Without License, Permit

The owner and CEO of a Westbury-based seafood marketing company allegedly sold more than $100,000 in fresh fish and shellfish to Long Island restaurants without proper licenses and permits, authorities said.

Richard Scores, Jr., 57, of Commack, was arrested Thursday by Nassau County District Attorney investigators and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation police officers after a joint investigation, officials said.

He allegedly sold shellfish and food fish without proper permits or licensure to restaurants in Garden City, Carle Place, Port Washington, New Hyde Park, and Westbury, as well as in Commack in Suffolk County.

No incidents of food-borne illness from fresh fish or shellfish transported and sold by Westbury Fish Co. have been reported, the DA’s office said.

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Scores and his company, Westbury Fish Company, Inc., were each charged with:

· Six felony counts of failure to possess shellfish shipper’s and processor’s permit

· Five felony counts and one misdemeanor count of trafficking in marine food fish and crustacea for resale to other than the final consumer without a valid food fish and crustacea dealer and shipper license

· Six misdemeanor counts of failure to possess shellfish shipper’s and processor’s permit

DEC regulations require that shellfish shippers must satisfy very specific criteria regarding the handling, processing, transportation and shipping of shellfish, as well as recordkeeping associated with such transactions, before shippers can be issued permits and be allowed to operate. Because of the unique nature of shellfish and seafood along with its elevated risk of foodborne illnesses and spoilage, these businesses require extra care on the part of workers and managers and receive great scrutiny from state regulators. New York law requires that permit holders submit to DEC inspections and must not exhibit health and operational deficiencies in their business.

“Food safety has to be the top priority for everyone in the supply chain,” Acting DA Madeline Singas said, in a statement. “Nassau County consumers rely on the enforcement of government regulations to ensure that safety.”

Scores, who is represented his attorney, Edward McCabe, was released on his own recognizance. If convicted of the top charge, he faces up to one-and-one-third to four years in prison. He is due back in court on March 3.

If Scores continues to sell fresh fish and shellfish without the proper licensing, he could be charged with further crimes, the DA’s office said.

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